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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The church of San Giovanni Battista de Corte, founded in the 10th century, was the mother church of Venaco. Today, only remains, mainly his apse, revealed by archaeological excavations (1956-1958). This research revealed a three-nave basilical plan, separated by square pillars, as well as a primitive ambon, typical of the Paleo-Christian basilicas. The decor of the abside, comparable to the Lombard churches of northern Italy, suggests a dating around the 9th-Xth centuries. The site, located 430 m above sea level southeast of Corte, could have been built on an ancient Roman town, Venicium, although this hypothesis remains debated.

The adjacent Baptistery, better preserved than the church, dates from the 13th century. He retained his apse and two apsidioles integrated into the masonry. Nearby, the ruins of a 9th century strong house were also identified. The religious complex, built of stones linked to the lime mortar, was classified as a historical monument on 27 March 1968. Since 2007, the site has hosted an annual celebration in honour of Our Lady of Fátima, organized by the Portuguese community of Corsica, which decorates the Baptistery and organizes processions and sung Masses there.

According to Giovanni della Grossa, Count Ugo Colonna, who had come to drive out the Moors of Corsica in the ninth century, would have set up his camp in Venaco, near the present site of the church, before building a palace about 100 meters west. This legendary story illustrates the strategic importance of the site from the early Middle Ages. The excavations also revealed archaic liturgical provisions, such as the steps of an ambon, emphasizing the central role of this place in the Christianization of the region.

The religious ensemble remains a major testimony of pre-Roman and medieval architecture in Corsica. Its classification in 1968 preserved its remains, while integrating the site with contemporary cultural events, such as National Archaeology Days. The separate but complementary coexistence of the church and the Baptistery reflects the religious and architectural practices of their respective times.

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